Vault Mastering Studios

Phoenix, Arizona

The need for mastering is universal. For nearly 15 years, Vault Mastering Studios has been the primary mastering lab for artists, mixing engineers, and record labels seeking a high performance mastering experience.

Our service rides on its reputation of superior results and a personal, individualized approach to your music. VMS combines this world class mastering experience with affordable rates to produce masters that stand the test of time and whose techniques are consistently acknowledged by the industry as some of the best in the field.

We're also one of the only Certified Mastered for iTunes providers in the state and are able to deliver high resolution iTunes masters to our clients when needed.

Service Features

High End Analog Mastering for High Resolution Release, iTunes, Audio CD, Online Distribution and Vinyl.

15 years of experience mastering for our clients, including independent artists and bands, recording and mixing engineers, major labels, symphony orchestras, commercials, films, audiobooks, and government agencies.

Acoustically designed and refined by the famed Walters-Storyk Design Group. You can read more about it by visiting the WSGD website.

Formerly in New York, we've recently relocated the mastering studio to our original home, Phoenix Arizona.

Nathan James is a proud voting member of The Recording Academy and a member of the Producers and Engineers Wing.

Client Testimonials

"Nathan is by far one of the most professional and pleasant people to work with in the music industry. Vault Mastering's pricing is right on point, the turn around time is extremely manageable, their knowledge and expertise is amazing, and Nathan left us at ease during the whole process. Nathan went above and beyond and assisted us during our disc duplication process as well and was a huge asset to our overall project. Look no further than Vault Mastering if you're considering professionally mastering your record!"

"Nathan was everything and more than what we expected in an engineer. He welcomed us into his studio and went way above his duties in the work and advice he gave us for the album. We left the studio confident in knowing that Nathan helped to create the sound we were hoping for and we are honored to have had him be a part of the record"

Korsak
http://www.korsakmusic.com/

Watering Can

"Nathan was fantastic. Easy to work with, punctual, thorough, and personable. Would definitely recommend to others, and use again myself!"

Jackson Hardecker
http://www.jacksonhardaker.com

8 Keys

"What a great experience working with the Vault! Nathan was very perceptive and extremely skilled in raising the quality of the release to a very high standard. My sincere gratitude. We will be seeing you again soon for the next one!
"

"In the 13 years that I've been performing and recording music, this is the best mastering engineer I've worked with thus far. Not only was he able to make the fixes and adjustments that I requested, he intuitively improved a host of other aspects of the mixes. I plan on using Vault for all my future projects."

"Nathan did a fantastic job on our newest release! We couldn't be happier with the results, and his willingness to work with us to put everything in a great sonic space was exceptional. We sincerely appreciated Nathan's ear and musicality in the choices he made for our mastering - he brought a new and fresh dimension to the music. THANK YOU!"

"I've been working with Nathan for the better part of a decade now on a good portion of the records I mix and produce. When it came time to master my own record finally, I had absolutely no question he was the one to craft it.

Nathan has a genuinely sensitive touch that graces all of his work, and I am constantly in awe of the often subtle but always brilliant work he does to refine those things that just slip under the radar with most people. A musical, brilliant, sweet, thoughtful, and dedicated human being. I absolutely adore working with Nathan and The Vault."

"In one word, fantastic! The quality of the work is amazing, our album now sounds like we always wanted it to. "

Xarb

John Medeski

"Not only did Nathan do an incredible job mastering, but without a molecule of ego, he produced three different masters for us, each meeting a completely different need. He understood what we were going for and pulled it off while maintaining the highest level of sonic quality."

"I have found that most mastering services are fairly impersonal with little time and consideration given to the artist's vision for their fans and listeners. That is not the case with Nathan at the Vault Mastering Studio.

One of the most important things that I recognized working at the studio is that Nathan provides a second set of ears, critical to objective listening. Honestly I must admit, that I was unable to detect some of the distractions found in our final mixes which Nathan was able to highlight and adjust with discussion and approval.

Not only was the mastering experience an eye-opening one, but listening to the sequence and mood for the master was as important as the professional sound. All I'm attempting to say is that, our music was created and recorded for a listening audience, and the listening experience began at the Vault, and our album did not come out from the session until we were satisfied that our music was exactly the experience we wished for people to hear.

Thank you for your insights and knowledge Nathan. I came for a product but forged a friendship that goes beyond a working relationship."